Chapter 11 A Desperate Search
The Empty House61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgch7E8QNjZ
Nick's heart pounded as he and Kyle pushed through the creaking doorway of the abandoned house. Dust swirled in the dim light filtering through broken windows, and the air was thick with decay.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwT1yczEQvd
"She was here," Kyle muttered, eyes scanning the overturned chair and the faint scuff marks on the wooden floor.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0yqnQAkNn
Nick didn't respond. He was too busy searching for something—anything—that would tell them where she'd been taken. His fists clenched. The idea of Chrissy being trapped here, terrified and alone, made his blood boil.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1yYh89C0Ss
Kyle knelt near the doorway, brushing his fingers against the floor. "Footsteps," he muttered. "Leading out." He stood, eyes meeting Nick's. "They took her into the woods."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSvs24jXLm
Nick's pulse jumped. Without another word, both of them bolted outside.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2q7KJlIN2
The Cliffside61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLyfU1QBxjE
The trail was erratic, leading them deeper into the dense trees, weaving between roots and rocks. When they finally broke through the forest, Nick skidded to a stop, heart hammering.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kDC4yFtoG
Kyle sucked in a breath beside him.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡta3DZmpi5F
The path ended at a sheer cliff.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAS4ILVGpBC
Nick's stomach twisted as he stepped forward, peering down at the jagged rocks below. The waves crashed violently against them, white foam churning in the restless water.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXF65rY7qA
Kyle exhaled sharply. "She jumped."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErYYGet08v
Nick's throat tightened. "Then she's..."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ve4M8c55J
Gone?61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGO5dJISBh
No. No way.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7dmSmJjdd
Kyle turned to him, eyes serious. "She's more like her mother than her father, Nick. She's a survivor."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKTLRMsPIG
Nick swallowed hard, his heart warring between fear and hope.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9HXaPHTsm8
If she had survived the fall... where was she now?61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdd7o6w0Aa
The Ocean's Secret61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdCdcFiyTX
Chrissy's body was weightless, suspended in the cool embrace of the ocean. She had been sinking, tumbling with the currents, but as her heart calmed, something strange happened.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2fKJq8JWx3
She wasn't running out of air.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKo9L32CTYi
Her lungs didn't burn.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLF4sh2Htyd
Instead, she felt... at peace.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOYOCbmaj7
She opened her eyes, the sunlight filtering through the water in shimmering beams. And then—something caught her attention.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4l3s629y1
A glimmer in the sand below.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIWyy30R0y
Kicking her feet, she swam downward, her fingers brushing against the object. It was a small, smooth piece of sea glass—its vibrant blue-green color glowing faintly. It reminded her of the compass she'd found in the hidden cave.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR89xt3cfpw
Her fingers closed around it, and a strange warmth pulsed through her palm.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmsFaq0FBmW
She didn't have time to think about what it meant. She needed to get back.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZK6DFHDLv
Turning, she propelled herself toward the one place she knew she'd be safe.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLoGN846WZ
The cave.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtkMpfOsYeO
Maddie's Jealousy61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡem9gyxDI1s
Back at the book nook, Maddie sat in a chair near the counter, pretending to read while keeping her ears open. She watched as Nick and Kyle stormed back in, their faces tight with frustration.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1l5xfQoSn
"She's gone," Nick muttered, raking a hand through his hair. "We checked everywhere."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgg7JPIdOd
Kyle exhaled, glancing out the window. "Then where is she?"61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDagWQGLa6I
Maddie's stomach twisted. The way they were acting—so desperate to find Chrissy—it made her insides burn.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhT3NzzOQWk
Nick didn't care that Maddie was sitting right there. He turned to Kyle with barely controlled panic. "She's out there somewhere. We need to think."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUH42cp9dw
Maddie's grip on her book tightened.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4EFKbzs9Yi
She bit the inside of her cheek, jealousy rising like bile. Why did everything have to revolve around Chrissy? Why did Nick always put her first? And Kyle—he wasn't much better. He acted so indifferent, but he always showed up when she needed saving.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFlSxzdi1k
Maddie clenched her jaw. It wasn't fair.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTAIpdeW1PA
Chrissy had two guys willing to go to the ends of the earth for her. Maddie had no one.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4UVMEuztz
It wasn't just about the boys, though. It was about what Chrissy represented. The power. The mystery. The attention.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡanSj6XMkJn
And Maddie was getting sick of it.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUaF67g2Nnp
Nick's Realization61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89AuLh7kWj
Nick paced, his mind racing. If she wasn't at the lighthouse, the book nook, or anywhere in town...61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11e8Lk9VNM
His hands curled into fists.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFF1sltEaE
She was somewhere safe.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodGlgM32K6
And there was only one place where no one else could find her.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7HGe7pP0d
His stomach clenched.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Hyk8lz1CQ
"The cave."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyaHzYr8E8m
Kyle's head snapped up. "What?"61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfiFc98vRM
Nick exhaled sharply, trying to mask his urgency. "I think I know where she is."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pZvWvQOuC
Kyle's eyes narrowed. "Then let's go."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnRzf1WyuR
Nick hesitated.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15uTEYbzDc
If Kyle went with him... and he found Chrissy first...61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkiK9w5jjzO
He didn't let himself finish the thought.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLgIKE4WfDw
"I'll meet you there," Nick said abruptly, turning toward the door.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBuZ9EZ0foj
Before Kyle could argue, Maddie stepped in front of him, arms crossed. "Where are you going?"61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOWJvVqxj2
Nick narrowed his eyes. Not now.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhJFS3U2gf
He forced his voice to stay even. "Kyle and I have one more place to check."61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdkMN2Pqva
Maddie's gaze flickered with suspicion. "Where?"61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ01B70BO5O
Nick didn't answer. Instead, he pushed past her and walked straight out of the book nook before she could pry any further.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkzoByTNaK
He didn't stop.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWnZhtAowm6
Didn't look back.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0tSwMGj0Yt
Because every second he wasted here...61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3WjPRtxSQ
Was a second Chrissy was alone in that cave.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWVGu7VtxH
61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3hgUFwk0s
And he wasn't going to let her stay alone.
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